Spotlight

Produce Supply Update May 3rd, 2024: Local Produce – We’re getting started with our local farmers on a few of the early season items. We have strawberries and asparagus. We should begin seeing blueberries, broccoli and cabbage very soon too. Apples – As we enter spring, shippers are still in a pretty good supply situation with apples out of Washington. They still have ample supplies of apples in storage for most varieties. There are a few varieties and packs that have tightened a little and are showing some small price increases, namely galas and honeycrisps. Overall, they still have a large crop of apples to sell, and we expect to see attractive pricing on most varieties into the summer months this year. Asparagus – We have local standard sized asparagus and it’s been really nice this season. I think they’re wrapping up though, so get them while you can. Blueberries – Have started in Georgia fields and should begin locally next week. We’re looking forward to a great season. Also, they’ve begun packing pints, so they’re a much better value currently. Corn – Is coming from Florida in good volume and beautiful quality. Pricing is very favorable, so proudly feature it on your menus. Grapes – Mexico is wrapping up their harvest, ending the glut of grapes. California is well into their season now and the market is stabilizing at a higher level. Quality remains very good. Lettuces – Iceberg and leaf lettuce supplies are limited this week. Planting gaps caused by spring rains combined with cooler than average weather have impacted supply. Warmer weather on the forecast should help to improve the situation over the next few weeks. Onions – New Crop onion season has begun and pricing is much more affordable and quality is much improved over the storage crop. Vidalia has begun their sweet onion season and we received our first shipment this morning. Squash – Yellow continues to remain short, but we expect the warm weather in Florida to help with yields. Georgia will start this week with no major volume yet, but outlook looks promising for next week. We do expect markets to remain strong as Mexico is coming to an end. Strawberries – Heavy supplies from many areas have the market down this week and farmers looking to sell berries. Quality is very good and just in time for the heavy Mother’s Day demand. Q: Where do fruits go on vacation? A: Pear-is
Produce Supply Update March 22nd, 2024: Asparagus – Are seeing a little bit of strength with Easter coming next weekend, but solid supplies out of Mexico and Peruvian fields making strong harvests. Quality has been very nice. Cabbage – Supplies are good and steady for the next several weeks. Warmer days have the fields bringing better volumes and heads sizing up. Corn – New seasonal harvests from Florida fields have got the corn deal rolling. Pricing is much better and we’re starting to see some size on the corn now that the temperatures are climbing. Cucumbers – As predicted, the market has begun to fall off on cucumbers. Florida finally has started their harvest and Mexican weather has warmed to allow better volumes. Prices are down considerably this week. Melons – Honeydew and cantaloupes demand remains light across the country. Most of the production is currently arriving from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. With sluggish demand, importers are looking to make deals. Quality remains very nice. Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce supplies remain limited this week with most growers reporting good supplies of romaine, green leaf, and red leaf. A recent hailstorm, combined with colder than average temperatures over the past two weeks, have impacted iceberg quality and decreased yields. Harvesters are trimming off outer leaves at field level to help keep the pack nice, but weights are lower as a result. Peppers – We are finally starting to see both Florida and Mexico with decent volume at the same time. We do need to remember that Florida will continue to experience peaks and valleys on yields due to previous weather. For now, we should see steady volume in the next two weeks. Colored peppers rose last week on light volumes. Strawberries – Are in a glut situation with several growing areas overproducing more berries than the market can use. Prices are very favorable right in time for Easter weekend. Tomatoes – Are finally settling downward as warmer weather in Florida is bringing on the crop. Quality and pricing are both improving rapidly on all varieties. Q: Why do cows have hooves? A: Because they lactose

Monthly Archives: March 2024

Blueberries – Should continue locally well into July and then we’ll make the transition to more Northern states like New Jersey and Michigan.

March 16, 2020 Supply Update: Heavy rains in California’s growing areas are creating havoc for farmers and shortened supplies on many items, especially leafy greens.

Heavy rains in California’s growing areas are creating havoc for farmers and shortened supplies on many items, especially leafy greens. This past week rain totals have ranged from over 1” to 1.6” throughout the Yuma valley. This has slowed harvest [...]

March 13, 2020 Produce Supply Update